Titanic Belfast has announced that Judith Owens is to be appointed as its next chief executive.

Ms Owens, who has been the award-winning tourist attraction’s director of operations and deputy chief executive since before it opened its doors in 2012, said she was “delighted” at her appointment and was looking forward to “delivering in the next stage of the company’s development”.

She will take over from Tim Husbands, who left Titanic Belfast to become the new chief executive of Westport House and Hotel Westport in Co Mayo next year.

Conal Harvey, deputy chairman of Titanic Belfast, said Ms Owens had already played a fundamental role in the tourist attraction’s success to date.

“She is uniquely placed to lead Titanic Belfast’s strong management team into the next phase of our company’s development,” he added. “We have ambitious plans to develop Titanic Belfast and its related activities so it continues to be recognised as a world leader in tourism.”